Theepidemiology ofpaediatric inflammatory boweldisease

A retrospective studyoftheincidence and prevalence of paediatric inflammatory boweldisease overan11yearperiod was undertaken inSouthGlamorgan. Overthis timetheincidence ofCrohn's disease more thandoubled from1*30casesper100000 childhood population peryearintheperiod 1983-1988, to3*11 cases per100000populationperyearintheperiod1989-1993. In contrast, theincidence ofulcerative colitis remained thesamethroughout thestudy period at0*71per100000peryear. In1993 theprevalence ofCrohn'sdisease inthe childhood population was16*6 per100000 andofulcerative colitis, 3-42per100000. (Arch DisChild 1996; 74:460-461)